Loften seeing sunshine at end of tunnel

James Bryant

05/23/2010

One Texas high school football prospect is finally seeing a little sunshine after a cloudy spring. For Irving Nimitz athlete and Tennessee signee Eddrick Loften this has been a spring of working hard and learning. Go "Inside" to get the very latest on his situation and when he will arrive in Knoxville.

One Texas high school football prospect is finally seeing a little sunshine after a cloudy spring.

Loften knew he had an uphill battle academically to reach the Smoky Mountains in the fall, and he received the news he needed last week.

"I got the needed test score, I significantly raised my test score, I got the news I have been waiting for," Loften told InsideTennessee.com Sunday morning. "We had already felt like I had made it on the sliding scale, but this new score gives us some breathing room."

Loften's Irving High School won't hold graduation until June 4, and he had planned on boarding a plane for Knoxville on June 6.

"My arrival dates have changed a few times," Loften said with a laugh. "Since I got this new test score, we have to send it off to the NCAA Clearinghouse, so the coaching staff told me not to rush my arrival. Now I will be flying out July 1st."

Now, Loften is just focused on finishing off each of his current classes in a strong manner.

"I have all As and Bs in my classes," Loften said. "None of them are in question. I have worked extremely hard in the class room. I had a goal and now it finally looks like it's going to be achieved."

The new Tennessee coaching staff has earned a lot of respect from Loften over the last few months.

"They have really stood by me," Loften said. "They have stayed in constant contact, giving me motivation to work hard. You could tell they really cared about my situation."

Loften has been working hard to make it to Knoxville; he now can see that dream becoming a reality.

"I just got me a cell phone from Knoxville," Loften said. "I wanted to be a part of the 865 (VOL) area code. It just puts me one step closer to my final arrival."

So with a month of free time on his hands what will Loften do?

"I have a gym membership and I'm going to focus on working out a lot," Loften said. "I'm in great shape now, but I know there is going to be a huge difference between the college game and high school. I have been doing the UT workout all spring. I'm going to be ready.